Machine for shaving printing plates



C. N. SMITH MACHINE FOR SHAVING PRINTING PLATES Filed Sept. 20. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 8, 1925- c. N. SMITH MACHINE-FOR SHAVING PRINTING PLATES Filed Sept. 20. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 8,1925- I 1,565,211 v C. N- SMITH MACHINE FOR SHAVING PRINTING PLATES Filed se uzo. 1923 s Sheets- Sheet 5 Ziqg Z25 wai FATENT @FFE CHRISTEAN It. SIP/113i, OF ELGIN, ILLIEfZfGIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 WILLETAEVI P.

TOPFENG, OF ELG-Ell, ILLINUIS.

MACEIEIME FGR SHAVIHG PRENTING PLATES.

Application filed September 29, 1923. Serial No. 863 8445.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN N. S ITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in lfllgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Shaving Printing Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of plate shaving machines by means of which metallic plates such as printing plates may be shaved or cut to the desired thickness or dimensions.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical and clli eient plate shaving machine adapted to be used for shaving metallic plates such as printing plates, to the desired uniform thickness or dimensions with accuracy and in an economical and ellicient manner.

()ther and further objects of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, which are made a oart hereof.

The invention consists in the features, combinations and details of construction and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in side elevation of an improved shaving machine constructed in accorolance with my invention and improvements;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in cenral vertical section, taken on line 3 T5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail View in trancverse section taken on line ll of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In constructing an improved shaving ma chine adapted to be used for shaving metallic printing plates, in accordance with my invention and improvements, I provide a stationary main frame 1 having side frame member 2, 2, end frame members 3, 3, and, 3y preference, provided with a bottom l, and suitable supporting legs 5, all of suitable dimensions and t ength to withstand the stresses and s to which they are subjected in use,

The main frame str J n c gular and in the form of an enclosed metallic frame of great rigidity and strength. 6 A vertically movable bed or table 6, of heavy rigid metallic construction, and, by preference, rectangular and provided with a flat top surface is mounted in and vertically movable relation to the stationary main frame 1, said main frame being provided with inner vertical longitudinal marginal walls7, 7, and inner transverse marginal walls 8, 8 which surround the vertically movable bed 6, said vertical walls 7 7, and 8, 8, being adjacent to and by pref erence in sliding engagement with corresponding side and end margins of the vertically movable bed and adapted to guide the same as it is moved upward and downward to any desired predetermined posi tion, so as to support the plate or work in position to be shaved or operated upon.

The bed 6 is provided with depending longitudinal web or body portions 9, 9, which are by preference cast in one integral piece with the flat top portion of the bed, and form bottom downwardly and rearwardly inclined bearing surfaces 10, 10, which are in oblique relation to the horizontal flat top surface of the bed.

Atapered or wedge-shaped bed-supporting member ll is mounted beneath and in horizontally 'movable relation to the vertically movable bed 6, and in supporting engagment with the same. This bed-supporting member or wedge 11 has its bottom horizontal supporting surface or surfaces 12 upon and in sliding engagement with a corresponding horizontal stationary top surface or surfaces 13 of the main frame, and is provided with upper downwardly and rearwardly inclined bed-supporting surfaces 14L, l-l, in slidable supporting engagement with the corresponding inclined bottom faces 10, 10, of the bed 6 already described. (See Figs. 3, 4:.)

Suitable means is provided for operating the tapered or wedge-shaped bed-supporting member 11 to raise and lower the bed 6 as desired. This operating means, when in thejform shown in the drawings, comprises arotative stationary bed-operating or adjusting screw which extends horizontally through a central horizontal opening or journal bearing 15 in the end frame of the machine, and longitudinally of and in parallel relation to the top flat surface of the bed 6, and between the latter and the bottom of the tapered or wedge-shaped bed-supporting member 11.

Collars 16 and 17 fixed to the screw 14 on opposite sides of the supporting bearing 15 or end frame member 3, permit the rotation of the screw, and prevent it from moving longitudinally; and the threaded portion of the screw is in threaded engagement with a screw-threaded bearing or nut 17 fixed to or forming a front end portion of the wedgeshaped bed-supporting member 11. The screw 14: is provided with suitable means for operating it, such, for example, as a hand wheel 18 or equivalent element. The periphery of the hand wheel has a graduated scale thereon; and a pointer 19 which is stationary, is located adjacent to the scale, for indicating the extent )f rotation of the screw and the position or extent of the bed 6 which is raised and lowered as desired by the rotation of the adjusting screw 14, and the resultant movement of the bed-supporting wedge 11 rearward to raise the bed, or forward to lower it.

The main frame 1 is provided with carriage-supporting tracirs 20, 20, located on opposite sides of the frame and extending longitudinally on opposite sides of and adjacent to the corr sponding side margins of the vertically movable bed ('3 already described. And mounted upon and movable longitudinally of these tracks is a cutter hea d or knife-supporting carriage 21.

The cutter head or knife-supporting carriage 21, when constructed in the form shown in the drawings, comprises a main carriage body member or head 22 in the form of transverse bar the opposite ends of wiiich are ach provided with an angular end portion 23 resting upon and in slidable engagement with a corresponding guiding track 20, and. having a bottom. inwardly projecting flange which extends beneath the track. The flanges 2 1- are adapted to hold the carriage or cutter head upon and in sl' ling engagement with the tracks. And shims or bearing blocks 25 are interposed between the tracks and the corresponding bottom flanges 24:, which may be provided with adjusting); or set screws 26, for engaging and holding the shims in position.

'lhe carriage extends over and transversely with respect to the vertically movable bed (3. And a transverse knife or cutter 27 which comprises in its construction a cutter bar head 28 and a sharp edged blade or cutter 29 adjustably mounted on said bit 27 is movably mounted upon the carriage 21 in such a manner that the bottom cutting dge of the blade 29 may be or lowered desired.

1e cutter blade is adjustably secured in operative position on the cutter bar 28 by means of adjusting screws 30 which are rotatively mounted in suitable openings or bearings 31 in the cutter bar 28, and securing screws 32 which are mounted in threaded engagement with the cutter bar 28 and extend through suitable elongated. slots in the blade. find the cutter bar 28 is, by preference, pivot-ally mounted on the longitudinally movable cutter-supporting means or carriage 21, by means of laterally projecting journals on the cutter bar and rotatively mounted in suitable journal bearings or openings in the corresponding ends of the carriage or head 21.

The laterally projecting journals may be in the form of projecting ends of a shaft or axle or stub shafts fixed to and projecting beyond the opposite ends of the cutter 27 or cutter bar 28, through the openings or bearings in the end frame portions of the carriage, and laterally beyond the said bearings and end portions of the carriage And cranlr arms and 36 are fixed to the opposite projecting ends of the axle or journals 33 and extend forward from the cutter 27 on opposite sides of the carriage in position to swing upward and downward upon and with the cutter as the latter is turned upon its axis by means of one or both of said crank arms.

Pivotally mounted on the knife-supportinn: carriage 21 is a safety plate holder which in the form shown in the drawings comprises a central lever arm or bar 37 which is fixed to and extends forward from a transverse rock shaft ('8 which is rockingly or rotatively mounted in suitable bearings on the knife supporting carriage 21. (See Figs. 1, 2, and

This safety plate holder is provided with a series of transverse laterally projecting horizontal plate-engaging rollers 39 each rotatively mounted on a transverse supporting rod or shaft 40 supported on and etc tending laterally at right angles to the lever arm 37. i

The lever 37 and. the plateengaging rollers supported thereby (in? extending horizontally on opposite sides thereof, are normally below the l wel of the plane in which the axis of the reel; shaft 39, wlcicli orms the axle or axis of the oprr:1tin; lever or safety plate holding lever 37. is located. lVhen the lever 37 with its plate-engragiuu rollers 39 are in lowered position said rollers are adapted to engage the top su fa e of the metallic plate, such, for example, are an elcctrotype or stereotype plate or similar printing plate, and hold the pla e firm ly and securely in position upon the boil 6 of the machine, and in po" ion to be en gagged and operated upon h: the bot-tom cutting edge of the hind or cutter T e safety plate holder comprising the lever 37 and plate-engaging rollers 39 moves forward and backward with the knife-supporting carriage 2i, and rests upon a forward stationary roller 4:1 during the forward movement of the carriage, or while the plate holder is in lowered plate-engaging posi tion; The plate holder, however, is adapted'to be raised out of engagement withthe metallic plate to be operated upon, whenever the knife-supporting carriage is to be returned to initial position, or whenever the raising of the plate-holder is desired. And in the form of the device herein shown and, described, suitable means is provided for znp ratively connecting the safety plateholder lever 37 with the movable or pivoted cutter 27, so as to enable the latter to be raised. auto: atically by means of the plate holder lever when the latter is raised, and ituvered into position to engage the plate to be operated upon, when the safety plate holder is lowered. And it is also desirable that the safety plate holder and its transverse plate-engaging rollers be yieldingly held inoperative position with the rollers 39 in yielding engagement with the plate to be operated upon.

' The trai'isverse rock shaft 38 is therefore journaled in vertically movable bearing blocks d2 which are mounted in the carriage between and in sliding engagement with parallel vertical guiding ways 43 on opposite extremities of the car iage. And

compressible. springs l lare interposed be-' tween an end frame member of the carriage and each of the bearing blocks 42, respectively, and are adapted to tend to press the latter downward, and thereoy yieldingiy press the rollers 39. of the safety plate- .oldcr into operative engagement with the top surface of the plate to be operates upon.

l? laced lo the transverse rock shaft 38 is r-operating member or boss 4-5 which iy he in the form of an eccentric or cam having a lever-engaging cam face or shoulder 4.6 which is adapted to engage the forward upwardly and downwardly movable end portion of the adjacent crank arm or .1 36 already described.

'lhe levers or cranl: arms 35, 36 being fixed to the axle 33 of the pivoted cutter :37 at the pposite ends of the latter, it will be readily seen that the raising of the safety plate holder lever 37 will. raise the cutter or knife blade out of cutting engagement with the plate to be operated upon; and that the lowe g of the platediolder ever 3? will permit the pivoted cutter to swing downward on its axis into position to raise the bottom cutting edge of the knife to engage and cut or shave the top of the metallic printing plate to be operated upon, as the carriage and cutter are moved forward over he bed on which the printing plate to be shaved is held by the safety plate holder and spring pressed rollers mounted on or supported by the knife-supv porting carriage.

A spring-pressecl journal-block supporting bar 47 is mounted on the knife-supporting carriage 21 directly in front of the pivoted cutter, and has its opposite ends located over and in position to rest upon the adjacent or corresponding crank arms 35, 36 which are fixed to the axle or journals of the pivoted cutter. Depending arms or end members 48, 48, are fixed to the 0pposite ends of this transverse bar l7, and fixed to each of these depending angular end portions or arms 48, is a vertically movable journal box Each journal "box 49 is mounted between and in sliding engagement with parallel upright guiding ways 50 in an end frame portion of the carriage 21. Compressible springs 51 interposed be tween the upper sides of the bearing blocks l9 and the end frame portions of the carriage beneath or in which said bearing blocks are mounted; and a plate-engaging roller 52, located directly in front ofand parallel with the cutting edge andbody of the cutter 27 has its opposite axle ends or journals 53 rotatively mounted in said vertically movable bearing blocks i From the foregoing it will be readily seen that the compressible springs 51, which have a suitable and sufficient tension for the pur pose, engage and tend to press the bearing blocks l9 and the plate-engaging roller 52 downward toward and into operative engagement with the metallic printing plate to be shaved or operated upon; and that the tension of said springs also tends to press the bar 47 and crank arms or levers 35, 36 downward, and that said springs and bar 47 and crank arms 35, 36 thus act to hold the pivoted cutter in its lowered operative position with the cutting edge of the blade held in cutting engagement with the metallic printing plate to be operated upon. It'will also be readily seen that the raising of the 'safet )late-holder lever 37 which causes the cutter blade to be raised out of engagement with the plate will cause the crank levers 35 36 to raise the roller 52 against the tension of the springs 51, 51 which act to press the roller 52 downward against and in yielding relation to the plate to be operated upon. Simple and efficient means is thus provided for; raising the cutting edge of the knife out of engagement with or out of position to engage a plate located on the bed of the machine auton'iatically or simultaneously with and as the result of the raising of the safety plate holder lever 37. The raising of said lever 37 also serves to raise the roller 52, as well as the rollers 39. And the car iage and the cutter pivotally mounted thereon are thus in condition to be moved backward to initial position, or in either direction over the bed 6 and any plate or work which may be on the bed. And by simply lowering the safety plate holder lever 37 at the proper time, the knife will be permitted to descend by swinging upon its axis into position to engage and cut the metallic plate to be operated upon as the knife-supporting carriage and the cutter and plate-holding mechanism thereon are moved forward in the operation of the machine.

A relatively short rear transverse roller 53 is mounted on the knife-supporting carriage 21 directly back of the pivoted cutter, and has its end journals 54 rotatively mounted in suitable bearings 55 in the knifesupporting carriage. And one or more compressible springs 56 are mounted in position to yieldingly press the axle or journal bearings in which the roller 53 is rotatively supported downward, so as to yieldingly hold the said roller down against the top surface of the metallic plate which is to be held in position upon the bed 6 during the operation of the machine.

Suitable means is provided for operating and controlling the knife-supporting carriage and for automatically stopping it at the opposite extremities of its movement, and adapted to enable the carriage to be moved to and stopped in any desired predetermined position, a very efficient and desirable form of which is constructed as follows:

Toothed racks 57, 57, are fixed to the lmife-supporting carriage 21 in position to extend rearward therefrom longitudinally of the frame of the machine and on opposite sides of the plate-supporting bed 6; and carriage operating shaft 58'is 'rota-tively mounted in suitable journal bearings 59, 59 on opposite sides of the machine frame, and provided with toothed gears or pinions 60, 60, fixed to said shaft and in toothed engagement with said racks or rack bars 57, 57. The shaft 58 is operatively connected with a suitable source of power, such, for example, as an electric motor 62, by suitable means which, by preference, comprises a train of gears and shaft and clutch mechanism, and means for releasing or actuati P the same, which may be constructed as follows, and which has been found in practice to be very efficicnt and satisfactory in operation when so constructed:

A toothed gear wheel 61 is fixed to the shaft 58. A. pair of intermediate or counter shafts 62, 63, is provided and mounted in suitable journal bearings in the machine frame. These counter shafts 62, 63 are so connected with the motor or power shaft 64;, or source of power, that they are caused to rotate in opposite directions: for example, the shaft 62 is operatively connected with the motor shaft 64; or source of power, by means of a spur gear or pinion 65 fixed to the motor shaft 64, a spur gear wheel 66 fixed to the shaft 62 and in toothed engagement with said pinion 65. A toothed pinion or gear 6'? is loosely mounted on the shaft 62 and in toothed engagement with the gear: wheel 61 which is fixed to the shaft 58 already described.

The shaft 63, which is parallel to the shaft 62, is connected with the latter by means of a spur gear 68 fixed to the shaft 62, and a spur gear 69 fixed tovthe shaft 63 and in toothed engagement with the gear 68. And a spur pinion 70, is loosely mounted on the shaft 63 and in toothed engagement with the gear 61 on the shaft 58. The shafts 62 and 63 are thus connected with each other so as to rotate in opposite directions, and are both operatively connected with the motor 62 or source of power.

Fixed to the pinion 67 on the shaft 62 is a clutch member 71; and fixed to the pinion '70 on the shaft 6?) is a clutch member 72. lh'ounted on and in longitudinally movable relation to the shaft 62 is a movable clutch said member 73 which is connected with shaft by means of a spline or feather conmotion 7% so as to rotate with the shaft but be movable into and out of engagement with the clutch member 71 fixed to the pinion 67. And a similar movable clutch member 7 5 is mounted on and connected with the shaft 63 by means of a spline or feather connection 7 6, in such a manner that said clutch member is caused to rotate with the shaft, but is movable longitudinally of the same into and out of clutching engagement wit the clutch member 72 fixed to the pinion 70.

A clutch-operating bell crank lever 77 having a yoke or forked lever arm por' en 78 provided with clutch-operas 1g be. a 79 in operative engagement with an anni peripherally slotted portion of the move c clutch member 73, is rockingly mounted in supporting bearing 80, and in opera engagement with said rotative longitudinally movable clutch member 73 on the shaft 62.

And a similar clutch-operating bell cranl: lever 81 having a yoke or forked a tion 62 provided with clutclue bosses 83 in the forked arms and adapted to operatively engage an annular peripheral slot 8 in the clutch meu'iber is 1'4""11 ly mounted in a suitable suppoi and adapted to more the movable clutch member 75 long' sudinally of the shaft 6 3 and into and out of en agement with the chitin member 72 fixed to the pinion 7 already described.

A clutch-operating pedal 86 fixed to :1. ever arm 87 and forming therewith a reeasing or actuesi V lever vzaich is operativ ly con ccted wit 1 the movable clutch lever 77 by means of a connecting rod .88, is

mounted on a suitable stationary support, such as a depending bracket 89 having bottom forked bracket arms 90 in which is mounted a stub shaft or rod 91 forming an e or pivotal support for the pedal 86 and its connected lever arm 87. (See Figs. 1 and 2.)

A similar clutch-operating pedal 92 which is lixed to and may be formed in one integral piece with a lever arm 93 and forms a clutch operating or releasing and actuating lever which is operatively connected with the movable clutch member and its operating lever 81 by means of a connecting rod 01, is rockingly mounted beside the pedal already described, and may be supported by the same bracket 89 and axle or shaft 91 on which said pedal 86 is also supported.

'lhe connecting rods 88 and 9d are each connected with their respective pedals by means of a pivot pin 05 and link 96, each of said links 06 being connected with the corresponding connecting rod by means of a connecting pivot pin 97. And said connecting rods 88 and 9 1 are each connected at their rear ends with a corresponding clutchoperating lever 77 or 81 by means of a-con- .ecting pivot pin 90, 97. (See Fig. 2.)

Depending brackets 08 and 99 form supports for the clutch-actuating connecting rods 88 and 9 1:. And each of said rodsis provided with a collar 100 fixed thereto, and with a compressible spring 101 interposed between the forward bracket 98 and the corresponding collar 100. These springs are thus adapted to actuate the rod with which they are connected in the direction necessary to release the clutch which is operatively connected with such rod. The clutches here shown are adapted to be released by the rearward movements of the clutch-operating rods. And the springs 101 are therefore clutch-releasing springs. Each of the rods 88, 04; is also provided with a cushioning spring 102 interposed between the rear bracket 0S) and a collar 103 fixed to such rod. (See Fig. 1.)

The clutcl'i-actuating and releasing-rod 88 which operatively connected with the clutch lever 81 on shaft 62 whiehacts to drive the knife-supporting carriage forward when the clutch is in closed orclutching position, is provided with a collar 104C fixed thereto; and a trip lever 105, in the form of a hand lever having a lever arm 100 provided with a hook 107 adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the collar 10%, is rockingly mounted upon a suitable support which may consist of a bracket 108 in which is mounted a supporting axle or rod 109 adapted to form a pivotal support for the lever 105. A spring 110 is connected with the lever 105 and is which may be adapted to tend to press the lever arm 106 into engagement with the collar 104:; and I a trip or releasing finger 111 fixed to the knifesupporting carriage is adapted to engage and release the hand tri lever 105 when the carriage has reachec a desired predetermined position at the forward extremity of its forward movement, or at any predetermined position in which the carriage is to be automatically stopped.

It is obvious that the trip or releasing lever 105 is adapted to be operated by hand at any time to release the clutch with which the connecting rod 88 is connected, namely the clutch on the shaft 62 which acts to drive the knife-supporting carriage forward. The carriage may thus be stopped by the manual operation of the lever 105 in any desired predetermined position either during the forward movement of the carriage or at the forward extremity of its movement, as desired.

A trip or safety guard arm 112 is fixed to the knife-supporting carriage in position to engage a collar 113 which is fixed to the clutch-actuating and releasing rod 9'1, so as to release the clutch with which said rod is connected whenever the carriage has reached a desired predetermined posi tion at the extremity of its rearward move ment, or in a predetermined position in which the carriage is to be stopped during or at the termination of its rearward movement.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that the raising and lowering of the plateholder lever arm may be conveniently accomplished while the carriage is in motion, or in any position ofthe carriage, and that said lever arm is adapted to automatically raise and lower the knife upon its axis, and r to raise and lower the roller mechanism located in front of-the knife; and that the roller located back of the knife and supported in s iring-pressed journal bearings is adapted to engage the metallic plate and hold it down on the bed during the movement of the carriage and knife in either direction over the plate, and while the knife is out of engagement with the plate on the return movement of the knife and carriage to initial position. And the bed is adjustable to different adjusted positions, so as to support metallic printing plates of any kind or thickness inposition to be operated upon by the knife and shaved to type-high thickness or otherwise.

I claim: 5

1. In a shaving machine of the class described, the combination of a bed adapted to support a metallic printing plate to be operated upon, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife mounted on and in movable relation to said carriage,

plate engaging roller mechanism on said carriage and adapted to engage a plate supported by said bed, supporting means adapted to adjustably support said bed in operative position, means for automatically raising and lowering the cutting edge of the knife *ith respect to the carriage and ed, and means for operating the carriage.

2. In a shaving machine of the class described, the combination of a bed adapted to support a metallic printing plate to be operated upon, a knifesupporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife mounted on and in movable relation to said carr age, plate-engaging roller mechanism rolat eiy n'iolinted on said 'arriage and forward of said kni' e, a plate-engaging roller rot irely mounted on the carriage and rearward with respect to the knife, supporting me ens adapted to adjust bly support said bed in plate-holding position, means for raising and lowering the cutting edge of the knile with respect to the carriage and bed, and means for operating the carriage.

2: In a shaving machine of he class described, the combination of a frame, a knife-supporting carriage mounted on and in movable relation to the frame, a knife mounted on and in movable relation to said carriage, plate-engaging roller mechanism rotatiyely mounted on said cariage, adjustable plate-supporting means adapted to support a metallic printing pl? e in position to be operated upon by the knife, means on said carriage and operatively connected wi h the knife, for raising and lowering the cutting edge of the knife with respect to the carriage, and means for operating the car-- riage.

1-. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed adapted to support a plate in position to be operated upon, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to said bed, a knife mounted on and in morable relation to said. carand adapted to engage and operate upon a plate supported. by the bed, a roller located forward with respect to the knife and dapted to engage a plate to be oper ated upon by the knife, and manually operable means on said carriage and operatively connected with said roller for 'aising the same out of engagement with such plate, and adapted to automatically raise and lower the knife with respect to the carriage and bed.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed adapted to support a metallic printing plate in position to be operated upon, a knife-supporting carriage iounted in movable relation to said bed, a knife mounted on and in movable relation to said carriage and adapted to engage and open 'e upon a metallic printing plate supported by the bed, a plate-holder member pivotally mounted on the carriage and adapted to swing upward and downward on its axis in front of the knife into and out of position to operatively engage and hold down a plate supported by the bed, said plate-holder member being operatively connected with the knife and adapted to raise and permit the lowering of the cutting edge of the knife, and means for operating the carriage.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed adapted to support a metallic printing plate in p sition to be operated upon, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to said bed, a knife mounted on and in movable relation to said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a metallic printing plate supported by the bed, a plate-holder ally mounted on the carriage and ada ted to swing upward and downward upon its axis in front of the knife into and out of position to hold down a plate supported by the bed, and means connected with the knife and adapted to be operated by said plate holder bar, for raising and permitting the lowering of the cutting edge of the knife with respect to the plate to be operated upon.

7. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a bed adapted to support a metallic printing plate to be operated up on, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife mounted on and in movable relation to said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a plate supported by the bed, a manually operable plateholder member pivotally mounted on the carriage and adapted to swing upward and downward on a transverse axis in front of the knife into and out of position to hold down a plate supported by the bed, and means connected with the knife and adapted to be automatically operated by said plateholder member, for automatically raising and permitting the lowering of the cutting edge of the knife with respect to the plate to be operated upon.

8. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination of a bed adapted to support a metallic printing plate to be operator upon, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife mounted on and in movable relation to said carriage and zulapted to engage and operate upon a plate supported by the bed, a manually operable plate-holder men'ibcr pivotally mounted on the carriage and adapted to swing upwa 'd and downward on its axis in front of the knife into and out of position to hold down a plate supported by the bed, a lever secured to the knife, and means operatively connected with said manually operable plate-holder bar pivotmember and adapted to operate said lever, to raise and permit the lowering of the cutting edge of the knife.

9. in a machine for shaving metallic printing plates, the combination of a bed adapted to support a metallic printing plate to be operated upon, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife pivotally mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a printing plate supported by the bed, a plateholder member pivotally mounted on the carriage and adapted to swing upward and (lownward on its axis in front of the knife into and out of position to hold. down a plate supported. by the bed, and means for opera tively connecting said pivoted plate-holder member with said knife and adapted to enable the knife to be swung upon its axis by the operation of the said plate-holder member.

10. In a machine for shaving metallic printing plates, the combination of a bedadapted to support a metallic printing plate, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife pivotally mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a printing plate supported by the bed, a plate-holder member pivotally mounted on the carriage and adapted to swing upward and downward on its axis in front of the knife, a plate-engaging roller rotatively mounted in suitable bearings on the carriage and between said pivoted plateholder member and said knife, and, means for operatively connecting said knife and roller with said pivoted plate-holder member and adapted to enable the said roller and the cutting edge of said knife, to be automatically raised by means of the operation of said pivoted plate holder member.

11. In a machine for shaving metallic printing plates, the combination of a bed adapted to support a metallic printing plat a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife pivotally mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a printing plate supported by the bed,a plate-holder lever pivotally mounted on the carriage and adapted to swing upward and downward on its axis in front of the knife, a lever arm secured to the knife, and lever-engaging means connected with said pivoted plate-holder member for operating said last mentioned lever arm to raise the cutting edge of the knife.

12. In a machine for shaving metallic printing plates, the combination of a bed adapted to support a plate to be operated upon, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife pivotally mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a plate supported by the bed, a plate-holder member pivotally mounted on the carriage and adapted to swing upward and downward on its axis in front of the knife into and out of position to hold down a plate supported by said bed, a lever arm secured to the knife, level-engaging means mounted on the pivoted plate-holder member and in operative engagement with said lever arm, for raising the said lever arm and the cutting edge of the knife, and means for yieldingly holding the lever arm in lowered position.

13. In a machine for shaving metallic printing plates, the combination of a bed adapted to support a plate to be operated upon, a lniifesupporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife pivotally mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a metallic printing plate supported by the bed, a plate-holder bar pivotally mounted on the carriage and adapted to swing upward and downward on its axis in front of the knife, plate-engaging roller mechanism operatively connected with said pivoted plate-holder bar and adapted to be moved by the operation of said bar into and out of position to hold down and release a plate to be operated upon by said knife, alever arm secured to the knife, and leveroperating means mounted on said pivoted plate-holder bar member and in operative engagement with said lever arm and adapted to enable said lever arm to be raised by the operation of the pivoted plate-holder bar to raised position.

147., In a machine for shaving metallic printing'plates, the combination of a bed adapted to support a plate to be operated upon, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife pivotally mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a metallic printing plate supported by the bed, a plate-holder bar pivotally mounted on the carriage and adapted to swing upward and downward on its axis in front of the knife, plateengaging roller mechanism on said plate-holder bar, a lever arm secured to said knife, lever-operating means mounted on said pivoted plate-holder mechanism and in operative engagement with said lever arm, for raising the same to cause the cutting edge of the knife to be raised, and means for holding the lever arm and knife in lowered position when the plate-holder bar is in its lowered position.

15. In a machine for shaving metallic printing plates, the combination of a bed adapted to support a plate to be operated upon, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife pivotally mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a metallic printing plate supported by the bed, a plate holder bar pivotally mounted on the carriage and adapted to swing upward and downward on its axis in front of the knife, plate-engaging roller mechanism on said plate-holder bar, a lever arm secured to said knife, a plate-engaging roller located between said plate-holder bar and said knife, spring pressed journal bean ings for said last-mentioned roller, means for operatively connecting said journal bearings with said lever arm secured to said knife, and means for operatively connecting said pivoted plate-holder bar witl said last-mentioned lever arm.

16. in a machine for shaving metallic printing plates, the combination of a bed adapted to support a plate to be operated upon, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife pivotally mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a metallic printing plate supported by the bed, a lever arm secured to said knife, a lever pivotally mounted in suitable bearings on the carriage and adapted to swing upon its axis in front of the knife, and means for operatively connecting said last mentioned lever with said lever arm secured to said knife.

17. In a machine for shaving metallic printing plates, the combination of a bed adapted to support a plate to be operated upon, a knife-siugporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife pivotally mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a metallic printing plate supported by the bed, lever arm mechanism secured to said knife, a manually operable arm pivotally mounted in suitable bearings on the carriage and adapted to swing upon its axis in front of the knife, means for operalively connecting said manually operable pivoted 18.111 a machine for shaving metallic the combination of a bed printing plates, adapted to support a plate to be operated upon, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, knife pivotally mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a metallic printing plate supported by the bet, lever i'i'iechanisu'i operaiively connected with the knife, for raising and lowering the cutting edge of the same, re silient means in operative engagement with said lever mechanism and adapted to tend to press the cutting edge of the knife in the direction of its lowered'cutting position, and means for raising and lowering the plate- :mpporting bed. I

19. In a machine for shaving metallic printing plates, the combination of a bed adapted to support a plate to be operate-t upon, a knife-supporting carriage mounted in movable relation to and adapted to travel over said bed, a knife pivotally mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage and operate upon a metallic printing plate supported by the bed, spring-pressed lever mechanism operatively connected with the knife, for rocking the same upon its axis to raise and lower the, cutting edge of the knife, means for raising and lowering the plate-supporting bed, and means for operating the carriage.

Signed at Elgin in the county of Hans and State of Illinois this 8th day of September, 1923.

CHHlSlIAN n. snrrn. 

